Automobile-lock.



1. H. MCCLURE. AUTOMOBILE LOCK. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25. 1918.

1,296,301. Patented Mar. (91.919.V

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1f l :.1" l W l /0 me/Moz Y A Imm-mmf, fmwiw M21 ga/g meNum-us creas co.. womuruc. l s

J. H. MCCLUHE.

AUTOMOBILE LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.25, 1918.

l ,296,301 Patented Mar. 4, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

.TOI-IN H. MCCLURE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

AUTOMOBILE-LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent. v

Patented Mar. 4, 1919.

Application filed February 25, 1918. Serial No. 218,995.

. To all whom t may concern:

-installed to positively lock the coil box and its switch against beingsurreptitiously opened and the switch actuated.

My invention aims to provide an accessory of the above type including alock that is articulated with the usual battery switch to control theoperation of the same, and associated with the lock is a latch memberand strap adapted for holding the lid of the coil box closed. Thelocking mechanism is assembled so that it cannot be easily removed, butprovision is made whereby the mechanism may be detached after the coilbox is opened.

My invention further aims to provide a simple, durable and inexpensivemechanism that is applicable to battery boxes now in use, and the manyadvantages of the lock will be apparent as the invention is betterunderstood.

Reference will now be had to the drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is aperspective view of a coil box provided with a lock in accordance withmy invention; v

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the coil box showing theusual ignition switch;

Fig. 4 is a similar view of a frame form-- ing part of my lockingmechanism;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the inner side of the lock casing;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view oi a detached coupling member;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a lock, and

Fig. 8 is a similar view of a modiied 'form of lock frame.

In the drawings the reference numeral 1 denotes a coil box having a lid2 and the rear wall of said box is provided with anges 3 so that it maybe connected to detached the dash of an automobile or other support byscrews orV any suitable fastening means. The front Wall of'the batterybox has an ignition switch 4 including a key actuated rotatable member 5and this switch, as well as the coil box, are of conventional form foundon the dash of many automobiles.

My invention resides in mounting a frame 6 on the ignitionswitch't,'said frame conforming in shape to the switch so as to it onthe side walls thereof and to hold the frame on said switch I providesaid frame with apertured lugs 7 connected to the front wall of theswitch by screws 8. Some of the lugs have resilient clips 9 and thebottom of the frame has a depending lug 10. I may use the type of frameshown in Fig. 8, said frame having a front wall 27 provided with a lockopening 28, screw openings 29 and clips 30.

Mounted over the frame 6 is a lock casing 11 which has the bottomthereof provided with an upwardly projecting lip 12 adapted to engagebehind the lug 10 of the frame 6, while other lugs 13 of the casing 11are adapted to engage behind the resili ent clips 9. After the iframe 6is connected to the switch 4L then the lock casing can be sprung intoposition'against the front wall of the coil box to inclose the switch 4.

Prior to placing the lock casing in position it is equipped with a lock14 and a coupling member 18. The lock 1-1 is of the tumbler type thatcan be-locked against rotation and released bya key 15. The lock hasdiametrically opposed pins 16 adapted to extend through slots 17 of thecoupling member 18 and the ends of said pins are upset, similar torivets,Y so that the coupling member 18 will hold the lock in the casing11, yet permit of its rotation when released by the key 15. The couplingmember has projecting diametrically opposed arms 19 adapted to engage inthe rotatable member 5 and thus articulate the lock with the switch. sothat the switch may be turned off or on by rotating the lock in properdirection.

The lock is also employed for holding the lid 2 of the coil box closed,and to this end, I provide the lid with a flexible metallic strap 20which has the rear end thereof hooked in the rear wall of the coil box,as at 21, and the front end of said strap has an aperture 22.

The top of the casing 11 is provided with ioo a spring pressed latch 23adapted to engage in the aperture 22 of the strap 20, and said latch maybe retracted through the medium of a button or linger piece 24 outsidethe cas*- ing ll and connected to the latch through the top wall of saidcasing. To prevent the latch from beingl retracted, at times, therotat-able coupling member 18 has a segment shaped cam 25 that may bepositioned at the forward end of the latch 23 to prevent actuation ofsaid latch by the button 24.

The front wall of the coil box, adjacent the switch 4, has a series ofopenings 26, and these openings permit of an instrument being insertedin the lock casing ll to, depress the clips 9 when it is desired toremove the lock casing l1. It will be noted, however, that access canonly be had to the openings 26 when the lid 2 is opened., as the casingll covers the outer ends of the openings 26.

When the key 15 releases the lock 14, the lock can be rotated clockwiseto close the magneto switch and such movement of the lock maintains thecam member 25 in front of the latch 23 and the coil box cannot beopened. It is only when the lock is turned counterclockwise, to closethe battery switch, that the cam member 25 is. out of the path of thelatch 23. Then the latch can be manually retracted to permit of thebattery box being opened.

It is thought that the operation andutility of the lock will be apparentwithout further description and while in the drawings there isillustrated a preferred embodimen-t of my invention, it vis to beunderstood that Vthe structural elements are Y susceptible tov suchvariations and modifications as fall within the scope of the appendedclaims.

What I claim is l. The combination with a coil box having a lid, acasing connected'to said box, a strap having one end thereof heldrigidly relative to said box, and the otherend adapted to extend intosaid casing, a latch in saidl casing adapted to hold the said other endof the strap therein, and a lock in said casing adapted to hold saidlatch against actuation.

2. The combination of a coil box having a lid and a switch, a casingnclosing said switch, a lat-ch carried by said casing for holding thelid of said bo-X closed, and a lock carried .by said casing adapted foractuating said switch and holding said latch againstactuation.

3. The combination of a coil boxyhaving a rotatable switch, a casing|inclosingy said switch, resilient means holding-.said casing.

onsaid switchl and releasabl'e fromVV withieny said coil box, and a lockcarried by said casing adapted for lactuating saidy switch.

4. The combination with a coil box having a switch, of a frame fixed to;said switch, a casingy inclosing said switch and said frame,

Vresilient means holding said casing on said lid, a. strap to hold saidlidr closed, a switch, v

a. lock on said box adapted to receive and hold an end of said strap,andlock controlling means havingA connection with said switch. so thatsaid lock controlling means may -actuate the switch.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

JOHN H. MGCLURE. Witnesses:

KARL H. BUTLER, f ANNA M. Donn.

Copies of this'v patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

